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Form  No.   471 


AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD 


Rev.  J.  A.  WHITTED,  D.D, 
Author 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 
OF  THE  LIFE  AND  WORK 

OF  THE  LATE 

REV.  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD,  D.  D. 

DURHAM,  NORTH  CAROLINA 


By  J.  A.  WHITTED 
BIRMINGHAM,  ALA. 


Raleigh 

Edwards  &  Broughton  Printing  Company 

1912 


Content£( 

Page. 

Preface    7 

Childhood  and   youth 9 

Dr.  Shepard's  home  life 14 

Dr.  James  E.  Shepard 20 

Dr.   Charles  Haddon   Shepard 22 

Augustus   Shepard,    student 24 

Sunday   School   missionary   and  colporteur 32 

Founder  of  Colored  Orphan  Asylum 36 

Dr.   Shepard  as   pastor 44 

The   end 55 

White    Rock  Baptist   church 62 

Appreciation  by  Dr.   C.   F.   Meserve 65 

Tribute  from  Rev.  S.  N.  Vass 67 


3Uus;tration£{ 


The    author    frontispiece 

Rev.  Augustus  Shepard,  D.D Facing  page  7 

Dr.  James  E.  Shepard "         "  18 

National  Religious  Training  School ....        "         "  20 

Dr.   Charles  H.   Shepard "         "  22 

Colored  Orphan  Asylum "         "  36 

White  Rock  Baptist  Church "         "  50 


Rev.  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD,  D.D. 

(Taken  3  or  4  months  before  his  death) 


preface 

While  the  hope  and  destiny  of  every  indi- 
vidual is  wholly  dependent  on  the  Divine 
Providence,  yet  God  often  uses  individuals  to 
shape  the  life  and  character  of  others  in  such 
a  way  they  become  a  blessing  to  the  world  about 
them,  and  their  end,  everlasting  life. 

The  Gentile  Apostle  was  stricken  down  on 
his  way  to  Damascus  by  the  direct  power  of  the 
Almighty,  but  Ananias  was  God's  agent  in 
pointing  out  to  him  the  path  in  which  he  should 
walk,  and  which  finally  led  to  the  greatest  mis- 
sionary service  the  world  has  ever  known. 

'No  man  in  i^orth  Carolina  of  the  past  gen- 
eration has  done  more  to  shape  the  lives  of 
young  men  of  the  race  than  did  this  man  of 
God,  the  late  Dr.  A.  Shepard.  The  writer  of 
this  sketch  is  one  of  that  number  whose  life, 
in  the  important  part  of  the  formative  period, 
was  very  fortunately  brought  under  his  influ- 
ence, and  as  a  mere  pittance  in  return  of  his 
indebtedness,  and  profound  gratitude,  this  brief 
sketch  is  written  and  dedicated  to  his  lifelong 
and  affectionate  companion,  Mrs.  Hattie  E. 
Shepard. 


There  are  many  scriptural  truths  which  we 
may  not  here  and  now  comprehend;  the  ful- 
fillment of  which  we  see  daily  before  our  eyes. 
That  the  ^'Potter  hath  power  over  the  clay,  of 
the  same  lump  to  make  one  vessel  unto  honor 
and  another  unto  dishonor/'  is  one  of  these 
scriptures.  On  the  one  hand  we  see  individuals 
born  with  millions  in  money  at  their  command ; 
rocked  in  the  cradle  of  ease  and  refinement; 
brought  up  under  the  tutelage  of  masters  of 
art  and  intellect,  a  ^^by-word  and  a  hissing"  to 
the  world  about  them,  and  sometimes  a  dis- 
grace and  a  failure ;  again  we  see  others  of  the 
humblest  birth,  enshrouded  in  adversity  and 
discouragement,  who  begin  early  in  life  to 
climb  the  ladder,  round  by  round,  and  ascend 
through  adversity  and  opposition,  step  by  step, 
until  they  reach  the  illustrious  heights;  em- 
blazon the  pages  of  history  with  their  name 
and  fame,  and  like  the  ''Gentile  Apostle"  ''look 
back  on  a  life  well  spent"  ere  they  enter  their 
blest  abode  in  heaven.  Such  is  the  life,  labors, 
and  end  of  Augustus  Shepard. 


10  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

Just  seventeen  years  before  the  immortal 
Lincoln  issued  the  Emancipation  Proclama- 
tion, in  the  city  of  Raleigh,  ^orth  Carolina, 
of  Richard  and  Flora  Shepard,  both  slaves, 
was  born  Augustus  Shepard.  A  great  man  was 
once  asked  the  secret  of  his  greatness,  his  im- 
mediate and  proverbial  r.eply  was,  ^'I  was  born 
right."  By  that  he  meant  he  was  the  son  of 
an  honest  parentage.  Such  might  be  truly 
said  of  the  illustrious  character  of  the  sketch- 
Richard  and  Flora  w^ore  the  manacles  of  slav- 
ery, but  never  a  more  honest  and  upright  pair 
lived.  Although  deprived  of  the  learning 
which  has  its  place  in  shaping  the  lives  of  chil- 
dren in  the  home,  yet  they  so  fully  possessed 
a  character  without  stain,  and  a  confidence  in 
their  Heavenly  Father,  they  were  enabled  to 
hand  down  to  their  posterity  that  which  will 
live  when  glittering  gold  becomes  '^sordid  dust." 

Of  this  union  there  were  seven  children,  but 
like  Joseph,  in  the  family  of  Jacob,  Augustus 
outstripped  them  all  in  the  race  of  life.  It  is  but 
just  to  say  that  all  of  them  were  honest  and 
upright,  and  bore  marks  of  piety  and  religious 
life.  Robert,  along  the  line  of  orphan  work 
especially,  has  distinguished  himself;  and  Sal- 


REV,  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        11 

lie  along  the  line  of  missionary  work.  Although 
Augustus  was  third  in  point  of  years,  he  was 
the  first  to  make  peace  with  God.  At  the  age 
of  twenty,  one  Sunday  afternoon  in  the  year 
1866,  in  the  midst  of  the  usual  family  devotion, 
Augustus  proclaimed  faith  in  God.  This  con- 
version was  the  beginning  of  the  first  great  re- 
vival in  Raleigh  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  War. 
The  whole  city  of  Raleigh  seemed  to  catch  on 
fire  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  great  revivals 
were  held  among  the  whites  as  well  as  the  col- 
ored people.  It  did  not  stop  in  Raleigh,  but  re- 
vivals spread  throughout  the  entire  State. 
Around  this  same  family  altar,  one  after  an- 
other of  the  children  in  rapid  succession,  until 
they  all  professed  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
Although  themselves  unlettered,  these  parents 
of  this  humble  home  realized  fully  the  worth  of 
the  soul,  and  in  the  salvation  of  their  house; 
and  God  abundantly  answered  their  prayers. 

In  April  of  the  same  year  Augustus  was  bap- 
tized by  Rev.  William  Warrick,  the  first  col- 
ored Baptist  preacher  in  Raleigh.  His  filial 
obedience,  his  fraternal  disposition,  made  him 
the  favorite,  not  only  of  his  parents,  but  of  the 
entire   household.      In   the   smallest   detail   the 


12  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

wishes  of  Augustus  found  a  ready  response ;  not 
only  while  the  family  remained  around  the 
same  hearthstone,  but  even  after  they  had  reach- 
ed the  years  of  maturity  and  had  separated ;  and 
even  until  the  death  of  this  illustrious  son  and 
brother.  A  splendid  demonstration  of  this  fav- 
oritism was  seen  in  the  untold  sacrifices  that 
each  made  for  the  advancement  of  ''Gus,"  as 
they  loved  to  call  him.  When  he  made  known 
his  call  to  the  Gospel  ministry,  Robert,  his  sec- 
ond brother,  remained  at  home  with  his  father 
and  labored  faithfully  that  he  might  keep  his 
brother  in  school  and  fit  him  for  his  exalted 
calling. 

He  was  not  only  held  in  high  esteem  by  his 
immediate  family,  but  by  all  who  knew  him, 
colored  and  white.  It  was  his  piety  and  manli- 
ness and  unusual  goodness  that  won  him  the 
place  of  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  in  all  the 
years  of  his  after  life.  His  former  master,  Mr. 
Manly,  who  was  at  one  time  Governor  of  l^orth 
Carolina,  had  such  implicit  confidence  in  his 
religious  character  and  fidelity,  when  on  his 
death  bed  he  sent  for  Augustus,  his  former 
slave,  to  come  and  offer  prayer  in  his  behalf. 
He  went  to  this  bedside  with  that  earnest  ex- 


REV.  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        13 

pression  which  was  characteristic  of  him,  and 
offered  a  prayer  fervent  and  effective;  the  most 
profound  impression  was  made  on  his  former 
master,  and  he  left  him  bathed  in  tears. 

^  While  Augustus  was  pious  and  of  a  godly 
life,  his  home  life  did  much  to  shape  him  and 
make  him  the  man  he  was.     He  was  never  ad- 
dicted to  any  vicious  or  filthy  habit;   and  al- 
though he  had  grace,  he  also  had  what  we  call 
"grit,''  and  whenever  it  became  imperative,  like 
the  Christ,  the  ^^lion"  could  be  seen  in  him,  as 
well  as  the  lamb.     This  was  exhibited  on  one 
occasion  during  the  days  of  slavery,  when  he 
was  but  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  an  inhu- 
man overseer  employed  by  Mr.  Manly  under- 
took to  brutally  beat  him  into  submission;  with 
all  the  force  at  his  command,  he  resented  it, 
broke  away  from  this  cruel  and  inhuman  over- 
seer,  and,  like  Paul  ^^appealed  to  Caesar,"  he 
appealed  to  his  master;  it  was  doubtless  this 
brave  stand  for  justice  and  fair  treatment  that 
gave  him  the  exalted  place  he  held  in  the  es- 
teem of  Governor  Manly. 

We  have  mentioned  the  devotion  in  which 
Augustus  was  held  by  his  parents  and  others  of 
Uie  family.     It  is  just  to  say  that  this  esteem 


14  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

was  mutual  and  fully  reciprocated,  and  never 
a  more  loving  family  than  this  existed.  In 
turn  the  parents  were  each  laid  away  to  rest; 
the  family  group  was  broken  up,  and  the  Shep- 
ard  children  separated  to  form  families  of  their 
own.  But  to  the  day  of  his  death,  whenever  an 
opportunity  presented  itself,  manifestations  of 
affection  and  esteem  were  exhibited  one  toward 
the  other;  and  ere  Augustus  ''fell  on  sleep," 
each  of  the  four  remaining  members  of  this 
family  were  at  his  bedside,  to  wipe  the  sweat 
drops  from  his  fevered  brow  and  whisper  words 
of  prayer  in  behalf  of  his  departing  soul.  Each 
was  there  to  witness  the  last  sad  but  impressive 
rites  over  his  remains ;  not  to  weep  as  those  who 
have  no  faith,  but  rather  to  rejoice  for  his  mul- 
tiplied achievements,  for  his  splendid  victory, 
and  for  the  blessed  assurance  that  he  had  gone 
to  strengthen  the  family  gTOup  in  Heaven. 

ISr.  ^f)eparb*£f  J|ome  Hiit 

While  serving  as  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church 
at  Hillsboro,  [N'orth  Carolina,  Dr.  Shepard  met 
Miss  Hattie  E.  Whitted,  a  young  woman  of 
sterling  character  and  a  devout  Christian,  whom 


REV.  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        15 

he  courted  and  married  in  the  year  1875,  Kev. 
Grooms  of  Greensboro,  ^N".  G.,  officiating. 

This  union  bore  every  evidence  of  Divine 
formation,  and  was  abundantly  blessed.  Actu- 
ated by  mutual  interest  and  love,  it  made  its 
impress  upon  humanity  and  became  like  all  such 
unions,  a  blessing  to  mankind  and  a  glory  to 
our  Heavenly  Father.  The  quantity  and  qual- 
ity of  its  offspring  was  an  emphatic  expression 
of  God's  approval  and  blessing.  They  lived 
happily  together  for  thirty-six  years  and  nine 
months.  These  years  were  joyfully  spent,  and 
hence  were  fleeting.  Every  one  who  came  into 
that  home  felt  at  once  its  benigTi  influences; 
aglow  as  it  was  with  "sunshine  and  song,"  and 
with  mottoes  here  and  there  upon  the  walls 
bearing  scriptural  texts,  w^hich  were  unmistak- 
able evidence  that  the  Word  of  God  had  a  con- 
stant place  in  their  lives  and  practices.  Every 
one  who  entered  this  home  was  deeply  impressed 
at  the  scriptural  rule,  and  that  was  the  rule  and 
guide  of  this  home.  'No  day  had  duties  too 
numerous,  or  tasks  too  arduous,  for  family  de- 
votion. Many  have  wondered  why  such  un- 
bounded success  has  come  to  the  children  of  this 
family;  the  answer  lies  in  the  consecrated  life 


16  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

of  both  father  and  mother  and  their  devotion  to 
duty,  which  was  the  answer  of  a  life  of  faithful 
service  and  prayer. 

There  were  twelve  children  born  to  bless  this 
home.  Four  of  these  passed  into  the  blessed  be- 
yond in  early  childhood,  many  years  ahead  of 
this  kind  and  loving  father.  Eight  still  survive 
him — three  sons  and  five  daughters.  The  best 
proof  of  the  sincerity  of  this  home  is  seen  in  the 
fact  that  each  and  all  of  these  eight  children 
professed  a  hope  in  Christ,  and  were  baptized  of 
their  father,  before  they  reached  the  age  of 
thirteen  years.  If  any  one  of  these  children  is 
not  thoroughly  familiar  w^ith  the  teachings  of 
the  Bible,  it  is  no  fault  of  the  father.  As  each 
became  capable  of  reading  and  understanding 
the  Scriptures,  a  splendid  copy  of  the  Bible  was 
presented  to  him,  and  the  constant  admonition, 
and  in  some  instances  compulsion,  to  read  so 
much  of  the  Scriptures  each  day.  The  exten- 
sive teaching  that  children  must  of  necessity  sow 
some  ^^wild  oats,"  was  false  in  the  opinion  of 
this  father,  and  instead  he  let  no  opportunity 
pass  to  place  in  their  hands  the  "golden  grain" 
for  early  sowing  that  they  might  reap  a  golden 
harvest  in  after  years,  and  in  eternity.     How 


BEV.  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        17 

abundantly  successful  he  was  in  this  course, 
which  is  not  of  everyday  occurrence,  is  seen  in 
the  phenomenal  lives  of  his  two  elder  sons  and 
other  children  of  this  Christian  home. 

No  parent  was  ever  fonder  of  his  children, 
and  milder  in  his  dealings  with  them,  than  was 
Dr.  Shepard:  but  he  himself  had  been  trained 
in  the  old  school,  and  when  mild  and  gentle 
persuasion  failed  to  accomplish  the  desired  end, 
he  turned  with  decision  to  the  rod  of  correction, 
and  laid  it  on  with  such  force  and  precision  the 
child  soon  realized  the  wisdom  of  falling  in  line. 
This,  too,  accounts  for  his  success  with  his 
children. 

'No  husband  or  father  ever  did  more  for  the 
comfort  and  support,  and  even  joy  of  his  fam- 
ily. ^Not  once,  but  always  and  everywhere  were 
his  offerings  like  the  widow's  mite,  "all  the  liv- 
ing'' that  he  had.  What  he  did  not  give  his 
family,  is  what  he  did  not  have;  what  he  did 
not  teach  them,  is  what  he  did  not  know  himself. 
Such  sowing  must  of  necessity  bring  a  golden 
harvest  to  any  home.  As  beneficent  as  he  was 
to  his  family,  he  was  not  less  beneficent  to  the 
world  about  him.  Like  Job,  he  could  say,  "If 
I  have  seen  any  perish  for  want  of  clothing;  or 
2 


18  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

any  poor  without  covering ;  if  his  loins  have  not 
blessed  me,  and  if  he  was  not  warmed  with  the 
fleece  of  my  sheep ;  if  I  have  lifted  up  my  hand 
against  the  fatherless,  when  I  saw  my  help  in 
the  gate ;  then  let  mine  arm  fall  from  my  shoul- 
der blade  and  mine  arm  be  broken  from  the 
bone."  He  fully  realized  that  "a  prudent  wife 
is  from  the  Lord/'  and  that  "children  are  an 
heritage  from  the  Lord."  Like  unto  few  men, 
he  entered  earnestly  into  the  smallest  details  to 
set  them  an  example  or  to  give  them  pleasure. 
ISTo  greater  tribute  was  paid  him  than  at  the 
obsequies  held  over  his  remains,  by  a  distin- 
guished churchman,  fellow-citizen  and  neighbor, 
who  said,  "He  looked  after  the  comfort  of  his 
family,  even  to  the  detail  of  picking  up  chips 
with  which  to  kindle  fires."  And  another  said, 
who  was  associated  with  him  for  forty  years, 
"The  life  of  this  man  of  God  was  so  chaste,  so 
pious,  so  calm  and  considerate  under  the  most 
trying  circumstances,  that  the  very  air  through 
which  he  passed  seemed  changed  because  of  his 
presence."  Such  a  life  not  only  contributed  to 
the  benefits  of  his  immediate  family,  but  like 
the  gentle  raindrops,  or  the  glorious  sunshine, 
all  about  him  realized  the  benign  influence  of 


Rev.  JAMES  E.  SHEPARD,  D.D. 


REV,  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        19 

his  genial  life.  The  old  and  decrepit  could  al- 
ways hear  from  his  lips  a  word  of  cheer;  the 
wayward  and  wandering,  a  word  of  admonition 
and  warning;  the  outcast  and  dejected,  a  word 
of  hope  and  encouragement. 

JSTot  until  the  ''final  consummation"  shall  bear 
testimony,  will  it  be  known  what  this  ''father 
in  Israel"  was  to  humanity  in  general  in  its 
uplift.  Such  men  are  not  intended  to  carry 
large  bank  accounts;  such  men  make  no  great 
material  provision  for  his  posterity,  but  his 
greatness  is  demonstrated,  his  monument  is 
erected  in  the  lives  and  characters  of  those  who 
are  so  fortunate  to  come  in  contact  with  him; 
and  his  heritage  consists  of  an  untarnished 
name,  a  life  of  noble  sacrifices  and  deeds.  He 
did,  however,  leave  his  family  a  lovely  home, 
hallowed  with  his  prayers  and  benedictions.  He 
saw  his  three  oldest  children  comfortably  situ- 
ated in  their  own  homes,  and  like  Jacob  of  old, 
one  of  the  last  pleasures  of  earth  was  to  lay  his 
hand  upon  the  heads  of,  not  only  his  children 
but  his  grandchildren,  and  pronounce  the  bene- 
diction, ere  he  passed  to  join  the  ranks  of  those 
who  had  gone  before  him. 

That  we  may  illustrate  the   fruitfulness  of 


20  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

his  family  life,  we  have  attached  a  sketch  of 
the  two  eldest  sons. 

STames;  €.  ^fteparb,  B.  B, 

James  E.  Shepard,  the  eldest  son  of  the  late 
Rev.  Augustus  Shepard,  D.D.,  was  born  in  the 
city  of  Raleigh,  X.  C,  on  the  third  day  of  ]^o- 
vember,  1875.  When  eight  years  of  age  hq 
entered  the  Model  Department  of  Shaw  Uni- 
versity, where  he  remained  for  two  years.  Af- 
terward, when  his  parents  moved  to  Henderson, 
he  entered  the  Shiloh  Institute,  Warrenton, 
^N".  C,  then  under  the  principalship  of  his  uncle. 
Later  he  entered  the  Pharmaceutical  Depart- 
ment of  Shaw  University.  He  graduated  from 
this  department  in  1894.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  colored  druggists  in  the  State  of  !N'orth 
Carolina,  and  engaged  in  the  drug  business  in 
the  cities  of  Charlotte  and  Durham,  N.  C,  and 
Danville,  Ya.  In  1897  he  was  appointed  chief 
clerk  in  the  Recorder  of  Deeds  office  in  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  and  a  year  later  Deputy  Collector 
of  Internal  Revenue  at  Raleigh,  IST.  C,  which 
position  he  held  for  several  years.  It  was  while 
holding  this  position  that  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee of  the  International  Sunday  School  As- 


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REV.  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        21 

sociation  selected  him  as  Field  Superintendent 
of  work  among  colored  people,  with  the  South- 
ern States  as  his  territory.  His  work  was  to 
improve  Sunday  Schools  in  management,  meth- 
ods, and  equipment ;  and  to  endeavor  to  bring 
the  denominations  into  a  closer  understanding 
for  cooperation  to  uplift  the  race.  His  efforts 
along  these  lines  were  very  successful,  as  is  at- 
tested by  the  different  denominational  conven- 
tions which  meet  annually  in  the  several  States. 
He  was  also  founder  of  the  E'orth  Carolina 
Mutual  Insurance  Company. 

Seeing  that  the  need  of  the  ^egro  race  was 
for  trained  leaders,  he  conceived  the  idea  of 
establishing  the  ISTational  Religious  Training 
School.  On  April  1,  1910,  the  first  tree  was 
cut  on  the  land  donated  by  the  white  citizens  of 
Durham,  'N.  C.  April,  1912,  there  are  ten 
buildings,  valued  at  $125,000,  with  students 
from  several  States,  Africa,  and  the  West  In- 
dies. This  school  has  been  phenomenal  in  its 
growth  and  development,  and  has  the  promise 
of  a  splendid  future.  As  a  mark  of  the  esteem 
in  which  he  is  held,  the  following  appeared  in 
the  papers  of  June  26,  1912: 


22  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

"Muskingum  College,  Ohio,  has  conferred  the  degree 
of  'Doctor  of  Divinity'  upon  Dr.  James  E.  Shepard,  the 
popular  president  of  the  National  Religious  Training 
School,  Durham,  N.  C. 

"While  Muskingum  is  one  of  the  smaller  colleges, 
it  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  truly  great  colleges  of  the 
country.  It  has  sent  out  a  host  of  notable  men,  who 
have  made  their  impress  upon  the  intellectual  life  of 
the  nation  and  whose  constructive  labors  have  done  much 
to  advance  the  general  good.  Among  the  alumni  of  this 
college  may  be  mentioned  the  late  President  Harper,  of 
the  Chicago  University;  Dr.  Moorehead,  dean  of  the 
Xenia  Theological  Seminar}^;  Dr.  Lawrence,  Mr.  Bryan's 
pastor;  Dr.  McClenahan,  pastor  of  the  wealthiest  Pres- 
byterian church  in  Pittsburgh;  and  a  host  of  others.  It 
boasts  of  the  fact  that  55  per  cent  of  the  male  gradu- 
ates of  this  college  are  either  in  the  ministry  or  the 
missionary  work  of  the  world. 

"Dr.  Shepard  is  the  only  colored  man  to  be  honored 
with  a  degree  at  the  hands  of  Muskingum  College,  and 
the  vote  in  the  faculty  was  unanimous." 

Br.  Cfjarlesf  J^nbbon  ^fjepatb 

Dr.  A.  Shepard  had.  such  a  profound  rever- 
ence and  esteem  for  an  able  ministry,  he  named 
his  second  son  Charles  Haddon,  for  the  great 
London  divine,  Charles  Haddon  Spurgeon.  He 
was  born  in  Kaleigh,  N.  C,  November  21,  1876. 
He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Ealeigh,  the 
Shiloh  Institute  of  Warrenton,  xsT.  C,  and  Shaw 
University,  Raleigh,  N.  C.    He  graduated  from 


Dr.  CHARLES  H.  SHEPARD 


REV.  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        23 

the  Medical  Department  of  Shaw  University  in 
1901,  passed  the  State  Medical  Board  of  North 
Carolina  in  June  of  the  same  year.  He  located 
in  Durham,  N.  C,  and  at  once  took  front  rank 
as  physician  and  surgeon;  he  has  the  largest 
practice  of  any  colored  physician  in  Durham. 
He  has  contributed  several  scientific  articles  to 
the  medical  journals  of  the  country;  one  of 
which,  entitled  ^The  Effects  of  Ergoapiol  in 
Female  Diseases/'  was  reproduced  in  one  of  the 
medical  journals  of  Great  Britain.  He  was  the 
first  colored  physician  in  North  Carolina  to  per- 
form abdominal  operations  successfully.  His 
first  operation  of  this  kind  was  performed  at 
the  age  of  twenty-two. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  State  and  National 
Medical  Associations,  and  has  been  prominently- 
mentioned  as  president  of  the  National  Medical 
Association.  He  is  president  of  the  Bull  City 
Drug  Company,  vice-president  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  Lincoln  Hospital,  located  at  Dur- 
ham, N.  C. ;  director  of  the  Farmers  and  Me- 
chanics Bank,  member  of  Board  of  Trustees  of 
Naiional  Religious  Training  School,  practicing 
physician,  and  instructor  of  physiology  for  this 
in5titution,  medical  director  of  the  American- 


24  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

Carolina  Mutual  Insurance  Company,  and  a 
prominent  member  of  the  White  Rock  Baptist 
Church,  of  which  his  father  was  pastor  until 
his  death. 

These  two  sons,  ranking  high  in  the  profes- 
sional world,  was  the  pride  of  their  distinguished 
father  in  his  declining  years.  It  was  often  said, 
if  Dr.  Shepard  had  done  no  more  than  give  these 
two  eminent  sons  to  the  world,  it  would  be  worth 
his  own  existence. 

^ugugtug  ^Ibeparb,  ^tubent 

As  nearly  as  we  can  ascertain,  Augustus  Shep- 
ard entered  the  Baptist  Institute  (or  Tupper's 
School),  now  Shaw  University,  Raleigh,  ^.  C, 
in  1869.  The  school  then  was  in  its  infancy, 
and  was  conducted  in  the  upper  story  of  the 
Blount  Street  Baptist  Church  (or  Tupper's 
Church).  This  church  was  located  at  the  corner 
of  Blount  and  Cabarrus  streets,  and  is  now 
known  as  the  "Tupper  Memorial  Church."  At 
this  time  the  boarding  students  occupied  rooms 
in  the  same  building,  at  the  rear  end  of  the 
church.  They  boarded  in  a  shed  room  on  a  lot 
adjoining  the  home  of  President  Tupper — at 
that  time   outside   the   southern   limits   of  the 


BEV.  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        25 

city,  on  the  Smithfield  road.  President  Tap- 
per's house  consisted  of  two  rooms,  with  two 
additional  shed  rooms  attached,  four  rooms 
in  all. 

In  this  early  and  crude  condition  of  the 
school,  no  pupil  had  a  greater  influence  in  the 
school,  nor  with  the  president,  than  did  Au- 
gustus Shepard.  An  incident  occurred  in  the 
fall  of  1870  that  gave  evidence  of  this  fact. 
President  Tupper,  burdened  with  poverty  and 
laboring  under  many  disadvantages  for  proper 
facilities  for  such  a  school  as  he  hoped  to  estab- 
lish, decided  to  write  to  a  wealthy  friend  in  the 
l!^orth  and  ask  for  a  donation  of  $10,000.  As 
was  his  custom  ever  afterward,  when  a  special 
effort  was  to  be  made  to  secure  funds,  he  asked 
the  student  body  to  unite  with  him  in  prayer 
that  God  might  touch  the  heart  of  his  friend, 
and  that  the  money  might  be  forthcoming.  Au- 
gustus Shepard  was  appointed  by  the  student 
body  to  conduct  this  special  service  of  prayer 
for  this  donation.  Said  one  of  the  students  who 
was  present  in  this  meeting,  "All  present  were 
convinced  that  Augustus  Shepard,  then  young 
in  years,  was  strong  in  faith  and  deeply  spirit- 
ual."     This    meeting    had    the    desired    effect. 


26  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

"These  effectual  fervent  prayers  availed  mucli," 
the  donation  was  granted,  and  the  foundation 
for  Shaw  University  was  laid. 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  of  all  such  meetings, 
while  he  was  a  student,  he  was  called  on  to  lead 
them.  Another  student,  who  has  since  risen  to 
eminence  in  his  Alma  Mater,  said  of  Mr.  Shep- 
ard:  ''His  talks  in  these  prayer  meetings  made 
a  deep  impression  upon  the  student  body;  some 
of  the  passages  he  used  to  quote  are  fresh  in  my 
mind  today.  Brother  Shepard  was  a  quiet,  dig- 
nified young  man ;  and  although  he  had  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  big  boy,  any  one  could  see  upon 
his  countenance  distinctive  expressions  of  Chris- 
tian piety.  And  notwithstanding  he  seemed 
much  reserved,  he  always  took  an  active  part  in 
religious  meetings,  and  always  impressed  me  as 
a  man  born  of  the  Spirit,  filled  with  the  Spirit, 
and  led  by  the  Spirit."  And  still  another  said 
of  him :  ''He  impressed  me  as  a  young  man  of 
unusual  ability.  A  robust  physique,  strong, 
heavy  voice,  but  of  a  congenial  disposition,  and 
deep  Christian  piety.  As  I  became  better  ac- 
quainted with  him,  I  found  that  he  not  only 
possessed  those  natural  traits  of  character,  but 


REV.  AUGUSTUS  SHEPABD        27 

was  a  man  possessing  unusual  spirituality,  in 
consequence  of  his  living  near  God." 

As  a  natural  sequence,  life  upon  the  student 
body,  when  the  time  came  for  the  season  of  re- 
vival meetings  in  the  institution,  Augustus  Shep- 
ard  was  selected  to  conduct  these  meetings. 
Great  showers  of  blessings  came  as  a  result  of 
these  meetings,  and  the  foundation  was  laid  not 
merely  for  intellectual  training,  but  for  Chris- 
tian education.  Hundreds  went  out  of  the  in- 
stitution converted  to  God,  with  words  of  praise 
for  the  direct  or  indirect  influence  of  this  young 
man,  clothed  with  unusual  spiritual  power,  and 
especially  adapted  to  the  work  of  soul  saving. 

As  usual  in  such  institutions,  there  are  other 
places  of  trust  and  confidence.  Mr.  Shepard 
had  that  esteem  of  the  president,  he  was  the  first 
one  called  on  to  fill  these  places.  The  Bible 
teaches  that  there  will  be  an  accurate  account  of 
all  things  in  ^'the  judgment,"  whether  they  be 
^'good  or  evil" ;  not  until  the  day  of  reckoning 
will  it  ever  be  known  the  severe  trials  Rev.  H. 
M.  Tupper,  president  of  Shaw  University,  was 
called  upon  to  endure  in  this  dark  period.  When 
it  became  evident  that  this  ITegro  institution 
was  established  to  live,  develop  and  grow,  ene- 


28  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

mies  multiplied  on  every  side;  these  were  not 
only  among  the  whites,  but  Negroes  were  used 
as  tools;  and  every  imaginable  mischief  was 
devised  to  dethrone  Mr.  Tupper  and  ruin  the 
institution.  A  long  and  tedious  lawsuit  ensued ; 
the  day  was  dark,  the  clouds  were  so  threatening, 
despite  the  iron  will  and  the  great  determina- 
tion of  the  founder  of  Shaw  University,  it 
looked  as  if  the  enemy  would  triumph.  Even 
some  of  the  individuals  who  had  received  in- 
struction at  the  hands  of  Mr.  Tupper,  turned 
away  and  held  with  firm  grip  the  strong  arm 
of  the  oppressor.  At  such  a  time  a  man  of 
small  calibre  would  either  be  hushed  into  si- 
lence, or  run  away  and  leave  the  guns  to  the 
enemy ;  but  Augustus  Shepard  was  not  that  man. 
In  the  thickest  of  the  fight  he  stood  by  his  com- 
mander. His  gTatitude  was  too  well  founded 
to  yield.  His  sense  of  justice  and  right  held 
superior  place  in  his  manly  heart ;  his  faith  and 
trust  in  God  was  well  founded. 

When  he  was  accosted  by  the  other  side  and 
was  told,  ''If  you  turn  Tupper  loose,  he  will 
either  die  or  be  forced  to  give  up  and  go  back 
ISTorth,  like  Martin  Luther  before  the  Diet  of 
Worms."     In  reply  he  said,  ''I  had  rather  die 


REV.  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        29 

on  the  side  of  right  than  live  on  the  side  of 
wrong;  and  I  shall  stand  by  Mr.  Tupper  and 
the  blessed  cause  of  ]S[egro  education,  which  he 
has  so  nobly  espoused."  Doubtless  the  truth 
was  told  even  by  these  wicked  men,  for  no  single 
individual  at  this  time  could  contribute  half  so 
much  to  the  support  and  encouragement  of  the 
founder  of  Shaw  University  as  could  Augustus 
Shepard.  The  battle  did  not  cease  on  Southern 
soil,  but  finally  was  w^aged  at  headquarters — 
'New  York  City.  The  attack  was  made  person- 
ally, and  the  destiny  of  Mr.  Tupper  was  in  an 
even  balance.  Then  Mr.  Shepard  came  out 
boldly  in  behalf  of  his  teacher  and  friend,  and 
the  balances  were  immediately  changed  in  his 
favor,  and  Mr.  Tupper  remained  at  the  head  of 
Shaw.  In  all  the  after  years  that  followed  in 
the  lives  of  these  two  great  men,  they  had  the 
highest  confidence,  respect,  and  love  for  each 
other. 

At  that  time  visitors  began  to  flock  down  to 
Shaw  University  from  the  N'orth.  Rev.  Shep- 
ard was  always  the  first  to  be  called  upon  for  a 
declamation,  or  an  address,  in  the  presence  of 
these  visitors. 

A  more  effective  plan  for  reaching  N^orthern 


30  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

friends  was  decided  upon  by  Rev.  Tupper,  and 
a  company  of  Shaw  Jubilee  Singers  were  pre- 
pared and  sent  throughout  the  JN'orth  each  year  to 
raise  funds  for  the  Institution,  and  to  give  some 
evidence  of  the  character  of  the  work  being  done 
at  the  University.  Rev.  Augustus  Shepard  was 
always  appointed  to  introduce  the  Jubilee  Sing- 
ers, and  on  occasions  he  would  deliver  sermons 
and  addresses.  He  spoke  in  many  of  the  prin- 
cipal churches  throughout  the  New  England 
States ;  and  while  the  plantation  melodies  and 
other  songs  given  were  a  rarity  in  the  JSTew  Eng- 
land States,  they  were  not  more  inspiring  and 
helpful  than  these  sermons  and  addresses  of 
Rev.  Shepard. 

When  the  work  of  teaching  and  preaching  be- 
came too  arduous  for  Rev.  Tupper,  it  was  neces- 
sary that  an  associate  pastor  be  called  to  Blount 
Street  Church.  Rev.  Shepard  was  recommended 
and  elected  associate  pastor  to  Rev.  Tupper. 
In  1880  he  graduated  from  the  Theological  De- 
partment of  Shaw  University,  with  degree  of 
B.S.  He  was  the  second  man  to  receive  the 
honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  his 
Alma  Mater. 

When  the  American  Baptist  Publication  So- 


REV,  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        31 

cietj  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  decided  to  appoint  a 
General  Sunday  School  Missionary  and  Colpor- 
teur for  Xorth  Carolina,  they  appealed  to  Rev. 
Tupper  to  make  a  recommendation.  In  his  esti- 
mation, no  man  was  found  so  thoroughly  pre- 
pared; and  without  hesitation  he  gave  his  un- 
qualified endorsement  of  Rev.  Shepard  for  the 
position.  His  untiring  service ;  the  influence  he 
exerted  in  ITorth  Carolina  in  this  capacity;  the 
many  thousands  who  were  brought  to  a  saving 
knowledge  of  Christ,  through  the  Sunday 
Schools  and  churches  throughout  the  State, 
which  he  established;  the  work  in  general  with 
its  splendid  results;  proved  the  wisdom  of  this 
selection.  Amid  the  haloes  of  his  companions, 
strong,  bold,  defiant,  he  leaves  the  institution 
and  enters  earnestly  and  anxiously  the  service. 
An  instance  not  so  common  in  the  lives  of 
men  is,  that  twice  he  was  called  to  the  pastorate 
of  the  same  church.  He  was  first  called  to 
Blount  Street  Church  as  an  associate  of  Rev. 
Tupper,  and  several  years  later  as  pastor  in 
charge.  While  serving  in  this  capacity,  he  was 
appointed  by  Dr.  C.  F.  Meserve,  successor  to 
Dr.  Tupper,  assistant  professor  in  the  Theo- 
logical Department  of  Shaw  University. 


32  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

^unbap  Retool  Mi^^vanwcv  anb  Colporteur 

The  fact  has  already  been  mentioned  that  in 
1875  Dr.  A.  Shepard,  at  the  suggestion  and 
recommendation  of  Dr.  H.  M.  Tupper,  was 
appointed  Sunday  School  Missionary  and  Col- 
porteur for  !N^orth  Carolina,  for  the  American 
Baptist  Publication  Society.  At  the  very  be- 
ginning of  his  career,  the  greatest  opportunity 
was  afforded  him  to  carry  out  the  spirit  of  the 
"great  commission.''  Everything,  so  far  as 
church  work  among  colored  Baptists  of  E'orth 
Carolina  was  concerned,  was  in  a  crude  state. 
There  were  a  comparatively  few  men  with  any 
degree  of  intellectual  ability,  and  the  field  was 
ripe  for  a  great  harvest.  IxTo  man  in  the  State 
was  so  fully  capable  of  the  work  at  this  time  as 
was  Eev.  Shepard. 

Fresh  from  college,  accustomed  to  physical 
toil,  robust  and  strong,  commanding  in  appear- 
ance, genial  in  disposition,  of  a  high  moral 
character,  and  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  power, 
he  was  the  man  for  the  place. 

Located  in  the  western  section  of  the  State 
of  l^orth  Carolina  was  Rev.  Edward  Eagles ;  in 
the  eastern  section  was  Rev.  Lemuel  Boone; 
Dr.  Shepard  towering  in  strength  in  the  center 


REV,  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        33 

of  the  State,  formed  a  splendid  link  for  a  begin- 
ning, ere  these  two  pioneers  should  be  called  to 
their  reward.  It  required  but  a  short  while  of 
such  ser\dce  as  Dr.  Shepard  rendered  to  the 
State  to  convince  the  multitudes  to  whom  he 
spoke  that  he  was  the  man  of  the  hour,  sent  from 
God  to  broaden  the  foundation  on  which  the 
great  Baptist  hosts  might  build  in  after  years. 
His  influence  began  to  be  felt  in  every  section 
of  the  State,  and  he  was  soon  the  acknowledged 
leader  of  the  colored  Baptists  of  E"orth  Caro- 
lina; not  only  in  Sunday  School  work,  but 
church  work  as  well.  Indeed,  it  may  be  said 
the  field  was  ripe  for  the  harvest ;  his  plans  and 
suggestions  were  received  almost  everywhere; 
organizations  were  formed,  and  the  work  was 
begun  in  earnest.  It  was  through  Dr.  Shepard 
that  the  Baptist  State  Sunday  School  Conven- 
tion of  E'orth  Carolina  was  organized.  He  laid 
hold  of  the  Convention,  to  propagate  its  work 
and  to  make  it  the  great  organization  it  is  to- 
day. And,  too,  it  was  his  work  to  form  auxil- 
iary conventions  throughout  the  State,  many  of 
which  are  still  in  existence,  and  have  done  and 
are  doing  splendid  service  in  themselves  and 
for  the  State  Sunday  School  Convention. 
3 


34  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

As  it  was  said  of  the  Christ,  to  an  extent  it 
might  be  said  of  Kev.  Shepard,  "The  which,  if 
thej  should  be  written  every  one/'  to  say  the 
least  this  book  could  not  "contain"  them.  It 
was  while  serving  in  this  capacity  he  demon- 
strated to  the  convention,  other  organizations, 
and  churches  his  great  power  as  a  Gospel  preach- 
er, as  well  as  organizer.  It  was  generally  con- 
ceded until  the  day  of  his  death,  that  he  was  the 
best  preacher  among  Baptists  of  ^orth  Caro- 
lina. We  do  not  make  this  statement  as  a  fact, 
but  as  a  concession  (while  we  state  it  in  our 
individual  opinion  as  a  fact).  Ko  man  was 
more  extensively  loved.  His  gentle  spirit,  his 
unassuming  carriage,  his  kindly  demeanor,  and 
his  universal  interest,  gave  him  that  hold  on 
men  that  everywhere  a  very  charitable  feeling 
was  entertained  for  him.  If  this  Sunday  School 
missionary  had  done  no  more  than  cement  hearts 
as  he  did,  inspire  lofty  ideals,  offer  comfort, 
cheer,  and  encouragement  to  the  despairing,  that 
of  itself  would  have  given  him  a  place  in  the 
front  ranks  of  Christ's  soldiery.  But  hundreds, 
yea,  thousands,  can  recall  some  kind  word  or 
deed  of  this  man  of  God,  which  has  been  a  step- 
ping stone  to  their  lives. 


REV.  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        35 

Some  one  has  said  in  substance,  ^'To  be  young 
while  one  lives,  is  to  live  in  the  hearts  and  lives 
of  the  young."  If  this  is  true,  and  we  believe  it, 
Dr.  Shepard  was  but  a  youth  when  called  to 
his  reward.  For  peculiarly  it  may  be  said  of 
him,  that  his  crowning  years,  as  well  as  at  the 
beginning,  and  all  through  his  life,  much  time 
was  spent  with  the  youth.  It  is  that  debt  of 
gratitude  which  has  led  to  the  writing  of  his 
biography.  The  good  one  does  when  he  places 
in  the  hands  of  another  the  Bible  or  other  Gos- 
pel literature,  can  never  be  estimated.  Thou- 
sands and  hundreds  of  thousands  of  Bibles  and 
Gospel  tracts  were  distributed  by  Dr.  Shepard, 
and  through  his  direction  throughout  ^orth 
Carolina.  Hundreds  of  our  ministers  who  had 
scarcely  no  helps,  were  supplied  with  libraries, 
which  proved  of  inestimable  value  in  preparing 
them  for  their  work.  ^N'ot  then  as  now,  did  they 
have  theological  seminaries  and  access  to  libra- 
ries; but  many  of  them  were  wholly  dependent 
upon  these  helps  afforded,  through  Dr.  Shepard, 
by  the  American  Baptist  Publication  Society. 

For  eighteen  years  he  served  as  the  Society's 
missionary.  Everywhere  throughout  the  State 
protests  were  heard  against  his  leaving  the  work. 


36  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

Accommodations  during  these  years  were  very 
meager.  He  had  to  endure  much  privation  and 
suffering  to  do  this  work.  We  have  often  heard, 
him  tell  how  on  one  occasion,  like  Jacob  of  old, 
he  had  ^^nothing  upon  which  to  rest  his  weary 
head"  save  a  "cold  stone/'  and  this  he  endured 
for  a  whole  night.  Often  for  many  miles  and 
hours,  with  the  sweat  pouring  down  his  face, 
bearing  his  budget  of  books,  tramping  his  way 
from  place  to  place,  that  the  destitute  might  be 
supplied.  With  eighteen  long  years  of  such  serv- 
ice, he  felt  it  incumbent,  over"  the  protests  on 
every  side,  to  retire  from  the  field  work  to  the 
pastorate.  In  almost  every  organization  through- 
out the  State,  resolutions  were  passed  commend- 
ing his  service  and  wishing  for  him  many  years 
of  usefulness  in  other  fields  to  which  he  was 
called.  With  deep  gratitude  to  God  Almighty, 
hopeful,  and  even  ambitious  for  greater  service 
along  other  lines,  he  bids  a  long  farewell  to  the 
field  work  and  enters  the  pastorate. 

Jf ounber  of  Coloreb  (i^rpfjan  ^gplum 

It  is  sometimes  difficult  to  tell  where,  when 
and  by  whom  great  enterprises  have  their  origin. 
Several  have  laid  claim  to  the  honor  of  bringing 


REV,  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        37 

the  Colored  Orphan  Asylum  into  existence;  we 
dare  not  dispute  this  claim.  Like  David  in  his 
relation  to  the  building  of  the  Temple  at  Jeru- 
salem, '^it  was  in  his  heart  to  build  the  Temple," 
but  the  actual  building  was  left  to  the  wise  and 
skillful  Solomon.  As  the  Sunday  School  mis- 
sionary for  N^orth  Carolina,  coming  in  contact 
with  all  classes  and  conditions  of  people  through- 
out the  State,  no  man  was  in  a  better  position  to 
study  and  know  the  needs  of  the  people  of  this 
State;  the  neglected  orphan  boys  and  girls  ap- 
pealed to  the  sympathy  of  Dr.  Shepard  as  no 
other  subject.  His  heart  became  so  burdened 
with  the  thought  of  some  place  for  the  care  and 
attention  of  the  orphan,  he  would  often  spend 
sleepless  nights  and  anxious  hours,  trying  to  fix 
upon  some  definite  plan  for  an  institution  for  the 
maintenance  and  support.  It  was  said  by  some 
who  were  in  position  to  know,  that  while  pastor 
at  Henderson,  K.  C,  Dr.  Shepard  had  a  regular 
^^praying  ground,"  where  he  would  resort  night 
after  night,  and  plead  with  God  for  the  orphan 
children.  Such  prayers  never  go  unanswered. 
There  were  not  the  organizations  in  the  State 
then  as  there  are  now,  to  which  he  might  make 
appeals,  in  the  hope  of  an  answer.     But  there 


38  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

was  a  God  on  high,  who  numbers  the  very  ^^hairs 
of  our  heads  and  marks  the  sparrow's  fall,"  and 
who  has  explicitly  said  in  His  Word,  ''Pure  re- 
ligion and  undefiled  before  God  and  the  Father, 
is  this,  to  visit  the  widows  and  orphans  in  their 
afflictions,  and  to  keep  himself  unspotted  from 
the  world." 

In  August,  1883,  he  felt  that  the  time  had 
fully  come ;  they  who  have  the  will  and  make  it 
known  to  God,  God  always  makes  the  way.  There 
is  no  chance  work  in  the  Divine  j)rovidence; 
God  has  fixed  everything  to  move  in  His  own 
time,  and  along  right  lines.  The  Wake  Baptist 
Association  met  with  First  Baptist  Church  of 
Franklinton,  ^N".  C,  of  that  same  year,  and  the 
Shiloh  Baptist  Convention  met  at  the  First  Bap- 
tist Church  of  Henderson,  N.  C,  in  close  prox- 
imity. This  was  God's  time,  and  Dr.  Shepard 
was  God's  man  to  do  the  work.  Through  his 
influence,  committees  were  appointed  by  each  of 
these  Associations,  to  take  into  consideration  the 
establishment  of  an  orphan  home.  Drs.  IST.  F. 
Roberts,  Wm.  A.  Greene,  Rev.  C.  M.  Ransom, 
Joshua  Perry,  and  Prof.  Jerry  S.  Lee  composed 
the  committee  from  the  Wake  Association ;  Rev. 
Isaac  Alston,  M.  F.  Thornton,  and  Henry  Hes- 


REV,  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        39 

ter  from  the  Shiloh  Association.  The  time  was 
ripe,  and  after  some  deliberation,  an  organiza- 
tion was  formed,  under  the  name  of  the  ^'Orphan 
Asylum  dissociation."  An  appeal  was  issued  to 
churches,  associations,  conventions,  and  secret 
organizations  throughout  the  State.  With  a 
burning  heart  and  prayerful  desires,  no  man 
was  so  well  qualified  to  follow  up  these  appeals 
as  was  this  man  of  God.  From  the  mountains 
to  the  seashore,  from  church  to  church,  from 
place  to  place,  clothed  in  earnestness  and  elo- 
quence, his  voice  resounded  ^'in  behalf  of  neg- 
lected boys  and  girls."  And  yet  wdth  all  this, 
it  was  first  a  season  of  clouds  and  darkness,  and 
then  a  season  of  life  and  hope.  Members  of 
this  committee  grew  faint;  but  ''Brother  Shep- 
ard"  would  still  say,  "There  is  yet  hope." 

To  better  advance  the  work,  and  to  make  it 
more  effective,  he  organized  county  Sunday 
School  conventions  throughout  the  State  as  aux- 
iliaries to  the  State  Convention,  and  in  the  con- 
stitutions of  each  of  these  auxiliaries  the  main 
object  was  the  establishment  and  maintenance 
of  the  Colored  Orphan  Asylum.  Evidently  thq 
plan  was  of  God  and  it  had  its  desired  effect. 
The  cause  of  the  orphan  was  not  only  heralded 


40  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

bj  this  great  champion,  but  pious  women  began 
to  multiply  through  the  auxiliary  conventions. 
Each  of  them  had  their  monthly  meetings,  in- 
stead of  annual  meetings  as  contemplated  in  the 
State  Convention;  and  as  funds  were  sent  up 
from  time  to  time  the  soul  of  the  founder  was 
touched  with  gratitude  and  praises  to  God. 

While  other  denominations  have  contributed 
from  time  to  time,  it  can  be  truthfully  said  that 
the  Baptists  are  the  sole  cause  of  the  existence 
of  the  asylum,  and  for  several  years  it  was  called 
the  Baptist  Asylum.  That  the  appeal  might  be 
more  extensive  and  effective,  the  name  was 
changed  to  the  Grant  Asylum.  It  was  then  de- 
cided to  appeal  to  the  State  Legislature,  and  the 
name  was  then  changed  to  that  of  the  Colored 
Oi^han  Asylum  of  Oxford.  While  its  name  has 
been  changed  to  meet  the  demand,  the  Baptists 
have  been  by  far  the  gi-eatest  contributors  among 
the  religious  denominations. 

Kev.  W.  A.  Patillo  was  the  first  superintend- 
ent, with  Dr.  Shepard  president  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees.  It  was  the  day  of  "small  things" 
while  he  remained  at  its  head;  many  sacrifices 
were  imperatively  necessary,  but  he  proved  equal 
to  the  task;  and  while  others  have  still  built 


REV.  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        41 

splendidly,  it  was  upon  the  foundation  made  by 
Rev.  Patillo,  associated  with  Dr.  Shepard. 
When  Rev.  Patillo  surrendered  his  post,  every- 
thing was  still  in  a  crude  state,  and  even  then 
it  looked  as  if  the  institution  would  be  a  thing 
of  the  past;  but  the  same  unseen  Hand  was  at 
the  helm,  to  guide  this  ship  to  a  safe  haven. 

For  a  short  while  Miss  Hawkins,  a  generous 
hearted  white  missionary  from  the  E^orth,  had 
temporary  charge,  and  erected  on  an  adjoining 
lot,  at  her  own  expense,  a  building  which  has 
since  been  used  as  a  girls'  dormitory.  Never  a 
wiser  choice  was  made  than  when  Rev.  Robert 
Shepard,  brother  to  Rev.  Augustus  Shepard,  was 
called  to  the  superintendency  of  this  institution. 
At  that  time  there  was  needed  prayer,  patience, 
and  perseverance,  and  it  may  be  peculiarly  said 
of  him,  he  possessed  each  of  these  in  turn.  A 
more  familiar  face  and  form  was  never  seen  in 
N^orth  Carolina  than  that  of  '^Brother  Shepard,'' 
standing  in  the  midst  of  some  audience  singing 
^^Saviour,  more  than  life  to  me,"  and  pleading 
for  the  orphan  with  tears  streaming  down  his 
face ;  these  appeals  never  failed  to  get  a  hearty 
response,  and  things  began  to  take  shape  and 
form  at  the  Home.     It  was  during  his  adminis- 


42  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

tration  that  an  appeal  was  made  to  the  Legisla- 
ture of  JSTorth  Carolina  for  an  annual  appropria- 
tion to  the  asylum.  A  singular  incident  oc- 
curred in  answer  to  this  appeal.  They  asked 
for  an  appropriation  of  $5,000.00,  or  fifty  hun- 
dred dollars;  the  committee  objected  to  that 
amount,  and  directed  the  clerk  to  write  forty 
hundred  instead;  the  clerk  neglected  to  make 
the  change,  and  when  the  time  came,  the  bill 
read  ^'fifty  hundred  dollars,"  and  ^'Brother 
Shepard"  always  felt  that  this  was  an  answer 
to  his  prayer. 

The  institution  grew  rapidly  and  very  pros- 
perous under  his  administration.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Hon.  H.  P.  Cheatham,  a  former  mem- 
ber of  the  United  States  Congress;  a  man  of 
broad  experience,  of  much  common  sense  and 
business  ability ;  a  man  whom  everybody  knows 
is  thoroughly  equipped  for  the  position.  Dur- 
ing all  these  years  of  change  of  administration. 
Dr.  Augustus  Shepard  held  the  place  of  presi- 
dent of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  lived  to  see 
many  splendid  improvements  at  the  institution. 
He  held  the  place  until  the  day  of  his  death. 
He  never  failed  while  he  lived  to  lift  his  voice 
in  behalf  of  the  orphan.     After  his  demise,  in 


REV,  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        43 

consideration  of  the  exalted  service  he  rendered 
to  the  institution,  which  in  after  years  became 
an  object  of  charity  for  the  Masonic  Fraternity 
of  IsTorth  Carolina,  although  himself  not  a  mem- 
ber, in  their  annual  convocation  held  at  Green&- 
boro,  ^rth  Carolina,  in  1911,  a  resolution  was 
unanimously  passed  to  erect  some  suitable  monu- 
ment on  the  campus  of  the  Oxford  Asyliun,  or 
elsewhere,  as  the  committee  may  direct,  in  honor 
of  his  memory.    Hence  his  name  will  be  doubly 
writ :  first,  upon  the  hearts,  lives,  and  characters 
of  those  who  shall  go  out  of  that  institution  to 
bless  the  world ;  and  upon  this  stone,  which  is  a 
tribute  of  the  generosity  of  the  Masonic  Fra- 
ternity.   A  further  tribute  was  paid  to  his  mem- 
ory by  the  board  which  he  ser\^ed  so  faithfully 
and  long,  to  leave  his  chair  vacant,  with  a  tem- 
porary presiding  officer,  for  twelve  months. 

We  give  below  a  statement  of  the  Oxford  Or- 
phan Asylum  at  the  time  of  his  death : 

Number  of  orphan  children 652 

Value  of  plant: 

295  acres  of  land $12,000.00 

Brick  dormitory   26,000.00 

Six  frame  buildings,  including  shops, 

sawmill  and  brick  plant 15,000.00 

Improved   farm   implements  and   live 
^^°^^    2,500.00 


44  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

free  from  encumbrance,  save  balance  due  on 
a  small  tract  of  land  purchased  near  the  insti- 
tuition.  The  State  appropriates  annually  six 
thousand  dollars  for  maintenance  of  the  institu- 
tion. Many  men  might  consider  themselves  for- 
tunate if  they  had  done  no  more  than  to  have 
been  an  instrument  in  the  hands  of  God  in  es- 
tablishing such  an  institution. 

2Sr.  ^fjeparb  ag  ^asJtor 

From  what  has  already  been  written,  it  would 
seem  as  if  Dr.  Shepard  excelled  along  all  lines. 
His  manly  character,  his  splendid  record,  his 
affable  disposition,  made  this  largely  true;  but 
he  was  never  so  fully  satisfied,  and  suited,  as  he 
was  in  the  pastorate.  If  there  was  ever  a  man 
who  loved  home  and  home  comfort,  it  was  Dr. 
Shepard.  The  pastorate  afforded  him  the  op- 
portunity of  this  enjoyment.  Much  of  his  splen- 
did powers  as  a  speaker  came  by  natural  in- 
stinct, and  growing  out  of  the  earnest,  consci- 
entious Christian  life  that  he  led ;  but  much  of 
it  came  as  a  result  of  hard,  faithful,  unceasing 
study  and  preparation ;  his  home  life  afforded 
him  this  opportunity. 

Uniquely,  he  was  a  Gospel  preacher  of  the 


REV.  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        45 

rarest  type.  This  was  readily  admitted  by  all 
who  heard  him.  The  Bible  was  to  him  a  text- 
book, a  guide  book,  and  a  daily  companion ;  and 
his  knowledge  of  the  Bible  was  thorough  and 
complete.  This  most  of  all  made  him  a  Gospel 
preacher.  One  could  rarely  mention  any  por- 
tion of  Scripture  with  which  he  was  not 
thoroughly  familiar,  and  could  quote  that  Scrip- 
ture verbatim  and  could  tell  exactly  where  it 
was  found  in  the  Bible.  And,  too,  he  had  great 
faith  and  a  vital  hope  in  every  promise  of  God's 
Word.  'Thus  saith  the  Lord,"  quoting  his 
own  language,  was  all  that  was  necessary  for  a 
foundation  upon  which  to  build  our  hope  for 
time  and  eternity.  During  his  entire  life,  noth- 
ing gave  him  greater  joy  than  to  spend  hours 
and  hours  alone  with  God  and  the  Bible,  in 
constant  devotion.  It  goes  without  saying,  that 
he  never  went  to  his  pulpit  after  such  devotion 
that  he  was  not  able  to  send  the  truth  home  to 
the  hearts  of  his  congregation. 

It  was  said  once  of  a  great  orator,  had  he  done 
nothing  more  than  gesticulate,  his  gestures  were 
so  perfect  he  could  have  been  so  fully  under- 
stood it  would  have  been  a  greater  speech,  by 
far,  than  any  ordinary  orator.     So  say  we  of 


46  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

Augustus  Shepard.  His  life  was  so  chaste  and 
pure,  so  imposing  in  his  demeanor,  his  manly 
face  bearing  such  an  expression  of  the  Christ, 
his  very  presence  in  the  pulpit  meant  more  to 
the  people  who  knew  and  loved  him,  than  many 
preachers  laboring  with  their  might. 

We  have  already  mentioned  the  fact  that 
while  a  student  at  the  Baptist  Institute,  or  Shaw 
University,  he  was  called  to  the  Blount  Street 
Baptist  Church  to  be  associated  with  the  pastor, 
President  H.  M.  Tupper.  His  services  greatly 
aided  the  overworked  Kev.  Dr.  Tupper,  and 
through  him  the  church  was  greatly  strength- 
ened, both  in  numbers  and  influence.  He  was 
afterward  called  to  Hillsboro,  ISTorth  Carolina. 
The  church  at  Hillsboro  never  enjoyed  such 
prosperity  as  it  did  under  his  pastorate ;  having 
the  leadership  all  to  himself,  he  demonstrated 
his  ability  to  lead,  and  gave  promise  of  greater 
results  by  far  in  greater  fields  of  usefulness. 
The  membership  was  gi^eatly  increased,  and  dig- 
nity and  spiritual  force  were  in  evidence.  In 
1875,  over  the  strong  protests  of  church  and 
community,  he  resigned. 

The  year  following  he  was  called  to  the  First 
Baptist  Church  of  Oxford,  :N'.  C.     The  greatest 


BEV,  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        47 

revival  known  in  the  history  of  the  church  at 
Oxford  came  during  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Shep- 
ard.  AYhile  serving  in  this  pastorate  he  was 
called  to  Henderson,  IST.  C.  In  his  first  pastor- 
ate in  Henderson  he  served  three  years.  And 
in  1880  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  M.  C.  Ransom. 
One  of  the  unusual  occurrences  in  life,  he  was 
succeeded  in  three  churches  by  Rev.  Ransom: 
at  Hillsboro,  Oxford,  and  Henderson.  He  was 
twice  called  to  the  church  at  Henderson,  and 
served  six  years  in  the  last  call.  It  was  during 
this  second  pastorate  here  that  he  established  a 
secondary  Baptist  school,  with  Miss  Cora  B. 
Persons,  of  Franklinton,  ^.  C,  principal.  She 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Jas.  Young,  of  Louis- 
burg.  The  school  flourished  during  his  pastor- 
ate, but  was  discontinued  after  he  left  Hender- 
son. 

Dr.  Shepard  believed  in  splendid  church  edi- 
fices, and  almost  without  exception,  where  the 
edifice  was  inadequate,  that  was  his  first  under- 
taking. He  began  the  erection  of  a  lovely  brick 
structure  at  Henderson,  but  he  did  not  remain 
there  to  finish  it.  Dr.  Walden,  his  successor, 
thought  it  wise,  and  erected  on  the  same  spot  a 
beautiful   frame  structure.     Dr.    Shepard  was 


48  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

then  called  to  the  Roanoke-Salem  Baptist 
Church  at  Garysburg  in  1885.  In  the  language 
of  one  who  was  then  a  member,  but  has  since 
been  called  to  the  same  pastorate,  ''Dr.  Shepard 
found  us  in  a  poor  condition  as  to  our  house  of 
worship;  it  was  almost  completely  demolished, 
held  together  only  by  the  ceiling ;  and  he  left  us 
in  a  beautiful  and  commodious  church  structure. 
He  i3ut  life  into  the  Sunday  School.  While  he 
was  a  great  builder,  his  wide  knowledge  and 
experience  taught  him  that  the  prayer  meeting 
and  Sunday  School  lay  at  the  very  foundation 
of  a  progTessive,  prosperous,  and  successful 
church."  He  found  the  people  at  Roanoke- 
Salem  Church  ready  to  work;  and  they  found 
in  him  a  leader  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  build 
up,  to  develop,  and  to  go  forward.  About  three 
hundred  persons  were  added  to  the  church  by 
baptism  during  the  six  years  of  his  pastorate. 
ISTot  as  in  other  churches,  this  church  had  preach- 
ing but  once  a  month.  In  1891  he  left  this 
strong,  loving  country  church  to  take  up  work 
in  another  section  of  the  State;  but  like  the 
Apostle  to  the  Gentiles,  he  never  let  an  oppor- 
tunity pass  to  revisit  this  church,  to  give  and  to 
get  inspiration;  for  this  particular  church  was 
always  an  inspiration  to  him. 


REV.  AUGUSTUS  SEEPARD        49 

His    next   pastorate   was    the    First   Baptist 
Churcli  at  Charlotte.    Dr.  Shepard  was  a  great 
believer  in  the  education  of  the  youth,  and  one 
of  the  first  things  he  did  after  settling  down  in 
Charlotte,  was  the  erection  of  the  Wharton  JSTor- 
mal   and   Industrial   School;   which  work   was 
carried  on  by  his  successor,  Dr.  C.  C.  Somer- 
ville,   for  some  time,   and  afterward  it  passed 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Eowan  Baptist  Asso- 
ciation, and  was  transferred  to  Salisbury,  'E.  C, 
under  the  name  of  Piedmont  Institute.      He 
erected  a  parsonage,  and  then  he  laid  the  founda- 
tion for  the  brick  structure  which  was  continued 
under  his  successor.  Dr.   Somerville;  but  was 
completed  under  its  present  pastor.  Dr.  P.  S. 
Lewis.      This  is  regarded   as  the  best  church 
structure  in  :N'orth  Carolina.     As  characterized 
his  pastorate  everywhere,  great  spiritual  awak- 
enings followed  in  this  church.     And  it  may  be 
said  of  this  membership  that  nowhere  in  North 
Carolina,   or  out  of  it,  can  there  be  found  a 
more  loyal,  hustling  crowd.     Dr.  Shepard  be- 
lieved  in  long  pastorates  only  in  exceptional 
cases,   and  whenever  it   occurred  to  him  that 
some  one  else  might  do  better,  or  that  he  might 
do  better  elsewhere,  over  the  protests  and  admo- 
4 


50  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

nitions  of  those  who  had  learned  to  love  him 
and  appreciate  his  real  worth,  he  would  go  else- 
where. 

He  was  now  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the 
Blount  Street  Church,  where  he  had  served 
years  before  as  associate  pastor.  While  there 
he  gave  a  part  of  his  time  to  the  Eoseville  Bap- 
tist Church.  From  Raleigh  he  went  to  War- 
renton,  to  pastor  the  First  Baptist  Church, 
where  he  served  about  two  years  and  during 
which  time  he  was  elected  principal  of  the  Shi- 
loh  Institute,  of  Warrenton.  Teaching,  how- 
ever, was  not  his  calling,  but  he  felt  it  incum- 
bent to  relieve  the  situation  until  another  could 
take  charge.  So  often  in  the  providence  of  Him 
^'who  marks  the  sparrow's  fall,"  grants  the 
earthly  reward  to  enable  us  to  perform  the  most 
ennobling  service  just  before  entering  the  eternal 
reward.  Like  the  fruitages  and  flowers  greatest 
and  sweetest  and  best  in  ripening  season,  so  was 
he  called  to  White  Rock  Church,  Durham, 
[N'orth  Carolina,  a  hero  of  many  battles,  to  fight 
his  last  battle  and  to  come  to  the  end  of  his 
service.  The  last,  the  best,  and  yet  the  most 
trying  of  Dr.  Shepard's  life  was  left  to  this  last 
pastorate.      Just  before  he  was  called  to  this 


WHITE  ROCK  BAPTIST  CHURCH,  Durham,  N.  C. 


REV.  AUGUSTUS  SHEFARD        51 

church,  it  was  torn  asunder,  and  in  the  midst  of 
a  great  lawsuit.  A  part  of  the  church  had  gone 
out,  and  were  worshiping  elsewhere.  As  a  pro- 
viso in  the  settlement  of  this  suit,  a  decision  of 
the  courts,  unheard  of  before  in  the  annals  of 
court  decisions,  was  that  the  names  of  three 
ministers  prominently  mentioned  before  by 
either  faction  of  the  church,  should  be  excluded 
from  the  list  of  those  who  would  be  considered 
as  pastor,  for  three  years.  Among  those  men- 
tioned was  the  name  of  Dr.  Shepard.  At  the 
expiration  of  three  years,  his  eldest  son.  Dr. 
J.  E.  Shepard,  with  explicit  confidence  in  the 
ability  of  his  father  to  bring  shape  and  form 
out  of  chaos,  peace  out  of  confusion,  made  the 
motion  that  his  father  be  elected  pastor  of  White 
Kock  Church.     This  motion  prevailed. 

With  an  indomitable  will,  with  that  faith  that 
characterized  him  in  all  these  years,  he  assumed 
the  pastorate  in  1901.  In  the  language  of  one 
of  the  members  of  White  Rock  Church,  ''His 
unfailing  sweetness  of  temper,  his  custom  to 
think  no  evil,  even  of  his  enemies,  his  unswerv- 
ing employment  of  means  of  prayer,  soon 
brought  a  decided  increase  in  the  membership 
and    congregation.       An    unusual    occurrence, 


52  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

some  of  the  most  prominent  members  of  the 
Episcopalian,  Presbyterian,  Methodist,  and 
Congregational  churches  flocked  under  the  shel- 
ter of  White  Rock  Church,  and  those  who  at 
first  thought  to  ^'laugh  him  to  scorn,''  were  soon 
made  to  feel  that  he  was  not  a  mere  ^'idle  curi- 
osity" on  their  hands. 

From  an  enrollment  in  the  Sunday  School  of 
150,  and  an  average  attendance  of  70  or  80,  at 
the  time  of  his  death  the  enrollment  was  520, 
with  an  average  attendance  of  480.  In  praise 
of  Dr.  Shepard's  great  service,  we  do  not  lose 
sight  of  the  hearty  cooperation  of  the  constitu- 
ency of  the  church ;  and  yet  he  was  the  great  in- 
strument in  the  hands  of  God  to  unravel  the 
tangle  and  furnish  the  inspiration  for  the  mar- 
velous changes  which  ensued. 

Dr.  Shepard,  with  long  years  of  service  and 
ripe  experience  in  pastoral  work,  held  extensive 
Bible  readings,  and  sought  to  lay  in  the  member- 
ship a  foundation,  firm  and  strong,  by  acquaint- 
ing the  people  with  a  knowledge  of  the  Bible, 
and  emphasizing  the  fact  that  the  Bible  was  not 
a  toy  to  decorate  the  center  tables  of  parlors; 
but  to  be  read  in  daily  family  devotion  and  ap- 
plied to  their  lives.     The  wisdom  of  this  course 


REV,  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD  53 
is  seen  even  now  in  the  fact  that,  though  his 
body  lies  cold  in  the  grave,  the  membership  still 
holds  together  in  a  glorious  union. 

With  the  increase  of  the  Sunday  School,  as  a 
natural  sequence  the  facilities  of  the  Sunday 
School  must  be  extended.  It  v^as  evident  that 
more  room  would  have  to  be  made,  to  accommo- 
date them,  and  the  Sunday  School  annex  was 
the  first  improvement.  Afterward,  it  w^as  seen 
that  the  main  auditorium  was  inadequate,  and 
hence  followed  the  beautiful  structure  which  is 
the  pride  of  the  church  people  of  l^orth  Caro- 
lina. 'No  church,  white  or  colored,  in  Durham, 
has  the  same  conveniences  and  modern  appli- 
ances ;  besides  the  main  auditorium,  there  is  a 
Sunday  School  department,  a  distinct  adjunct, 
with  its  own  apartments  and  divisions  for  the 
accommodation  of  its  classes ;  the  pastor's  study ; 
the  reading  and  lecture  room ;  the  ladies'  parlor, 
kitchen,  dining  room,  and  even  bath  rooms.  The 
privations  of  pastor  and  membership  during  the 
time  of  the  erection  of  this  new  structure  were 
great.  As  a  temporary  place  of  worship  they 
used  a  tent,  which  during  the  season  of  summer 
was  excessively  hot ;  and  yet  pastor  and  people 
and  congregation  held  on  even  under  these  try- 


ing circumstances. 


54  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

The  test  of  the  physical,  as  well  as  the  ora- 
torical and  spiritual,  strength  of  the  pastor  was 
tried.  The  congregations  and  collections  did 
not  fall  a  whit  behind ;  but  for  one,  at  his  time 
of  life,  who  had  known  nothing  but  hardships 
and  toil,  the  strain  was  too  much;  and  it  was 
thought  by  many  these  trying  circumstances 
hastened  his  death,  which  so  soon  followed.  With 
great  ceremony  and  Christian  pride,  in  1911, 
the  new  edifice  was  thrown  open  to  the  public. 
As  in  so  many  other  instances,  '^In  the  midst  of 
life  we  are  in  death.''  Just  as  White  Eock 
Church  felt  that  they  were  prepared  to  enter 
upon  their  greatest  work,  in  less  than  twelve 
months  this  ^Svatchman"  was  called  from  the 
walls.  True  to  his  trust  in  the  closing  hours  of 
an  eventful  life,  as  he  had  been  in  all  preceding 
years,  he  gave  them  timely  warning,  as  God  had 
given  warning  to  him,  the  fulfillment  of  which 
they  were  in  no  sense  prepared  to  accept,  when 
it  came.  Said  he  to  his  church,  '^I  will  soon 
have  to  leave  you,  but  while  I  am  here,  I  will 
tell  you  the  truth,  as  it  is  revealed  to  me." 
Less  than  one  year  from  that  day,  just  long 
enough  to  enjoy  some  fruitage  of  such  earnest 
and  anxious  sowing  of  tears,  sacrifices  and  pray- 


REV.  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        55 

ers,  God  required  him  to  answer  to  a  summons 
from  on  high. 

He  was  invited  to  preach  the  dedicatorial 
sermon  in  the  beautiful  and  imposing  First 
Baptist  Church  of  Charlotte,  N.  C,  of  which 
mention  has  been  made  among  his  pastorates; 
but  the  invitation  came  just  too  late  for  compli- 
ance. His  summons  had  come  from  his  Fa- 
ther's throne  on  high,  and  it  was  mandatory. 
Even  his  family  was  unmindful  of  the  real  situ- 
ation; his  wife  had  gone  to  Charlotte  ahead  of 
him,  and  anxiously  awaited  his  coming.  For 
the  first  time  a  message  over  the  wires  told  of  the 
real  situation,  and  his  wife  hastened  to  his  bed- 
side, where  she  remained  to  the  end. 

The  news  of  the  extreme  illness  of  the  dis- 
tinguished pastor  of  White  Rock  Baptist 
Church  was  flashed  over  the  wires  from  his 
home  in  Durham  to  the  remotest  parts  of  the 
State  of  North  Carolina  and  elsewhere.  The 
newspapers  told  the  sad  story  of  his  illness  with 
as  much  reservation  as  possible,  and  yet  one 
could  easily  ''read  between  the  lines"  and  was 
made   to   feel   that  the  ''prince"   of  preachers 


56  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

among  the  ITegro  Baptists  of  E'orth  Carolina 
was  fast  approaching  the  end. 

A  specialist  in  the  medical  field  was  hurried 
to  the  scene,  while  two  other  physicians  were  at 
his  bedside,  twice  each  day,  and  sometimes  far 
up  into  the  night;  every  care  and  attention 
which  human  hands  could  devise,  was  employed ; 
prayers  in  the  State  meetings,  in  the  churches, 
and  in  the  closets  went  uj)  daily  and  hourly  in 
his  behalf;  for  seven  weeks  he  lingered,  but 
these  petitions  were  unceasing.  !N'ot  once  during 
all  these  weeks  and  days  of  suffering  was  he 
heard  to  utter  a  word  of  complaint.  Although 
under  a  strain,  as  was  evident  sometimes,  each 
visitor  was  met  in  his  approach  with  a  genial 
smile  and  a  kindly  gTeeting.  His  usual  reply  to 
the  many  inquiries,  ''I  am  making  out,''  or  ^'I 
am  just  waiting." 

Never  before  have  we  seen  such  deep  anxiety 
exhibited,  and  for  such  a  long  time.  The  scene 
was  often  pathetic,  to  find  members  and  friends 
waiting  in  adjoining  homes,  with  tearful  eyes, 
asking  for  one  word  of  cheer  from  the  sick  room. 
Augustus  Shepard  shared,  as  no  other  we  have 
ever  known,  the  deepest  sympathy  and  good 
wishes  of  the  world  about  him.     The  State  Con- 


REV,  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        57 

vention,  in  its  annual  session  at  Fayetteville, 
IT.  C,  which  provided  for  him  in  its  pro- 
gram to  preach  one  of  the  annual  sermons, 
on  learning  of  the  condition  of  the  sufferer,  was 
touched  into  tenderness  as  we  have  never  seen 
them  before ;  resolutions  were  passed,  to  be  sent 
over  the  wires  to  his  bedside;  several  fervent 
prayers  were  offered  in  his  behalf;  and  more 
than  an  hour  was  spent  by  different  members, 
who  had  been  associated  with  him  for  so  many 
years,  in  giving  expression  to  his  many  virtues 
and  achievements. 

From  time  to  time  during  these  seven  weeks 
of  illness,  the  home  was  crowded  with  people 
from  all  ranks  of  life.  All  this  could  not  stay 
death  from  his  claim.  The  appointed  time  had 
come,  and  the  debt  must  be  paid.  The  hero  of 
so  many  battles  must  face  the  battle  of  battles, 
the  battle  of  the  death  struggle ;  but  with  that 
fortitude  which  never  failed  him  in  the  fiercest 
contests  of  the  life  he  had  lived  so  nobly,  his 
every  word,  and  even  his  very  countenance,  gave 
evidence;  although  upon  the  verge  of  the  dark 
"valley  of  the  shadow  of  death/'  he  "feared  no 
evil,"  for  God  was  with  him. 

One  of  the  last  things  he  did  was  to  give  the 


58  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

last  counsel  to  his  family,  as  he  had  constantly 
done  in  life.  With  his  hand  clasped  in  that  of 
his  daughter,  ''faith  caught  the  sound/'  love 
heard  the  rustling  of  wings,  angels  coming  from 
above  to  bear  his  spirit  to  that  blest  spirit  land. 
The  Heavenly  Father,  as  if  to  give  emphasis  to 
this  beautiful  life,  called  him  just  at  sunset,  on 
the  beautiful  day  of  ITovember  19th.  Silence 
reigned  everywhere,  broken  only  by  an  occasion- 
al sob ;  his  end  was  not  the  agony  and  groans  of 
the  lost,  or  the  radiance  of  the  departing  clothed 
in  poetry  and  song,  but  as  the  sun  in  his  glory 
at  eventide  of  this  day  died  in  silence  sublime, 
so  passed  this  ''father  in  Israel,"  not  to  return  as 
the  king  of  day  on  the  following  morning,  to 
light  up  and  beautify  the  earth ;  but  to  reflect  a 
brightness  with  that  of  others  in  realms  immor- 
tal fair ;  in  realms  where  "the  Lord  giveth  them 
light:  and  where  they  shall  reign  forever  and 
ever." 

His  spacious  residence  on  Cozart  Avenue  was 
not  sufficient  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  vast 
crowds  that  gathered  around,  and  his  remains 
were  borne  by  gentle  hands  to  the  church  edifice 
in  which  he  had  served  so  faithfully  up  to  the 
closing  days  of  his  earthly  career.     The  thou- 


REV.  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        59 

sands  of  both  races,  of  all  classes  and  conditions, 
throughout  the  day,  with  bared  heads  and  rever- 
ential expressions,  passed  the  coffin  to  take  the 
last  look  at  the  face  so  familiar  to  all  Durham, 
and  to  all  North  Carolina.  It  never  was  ours 
before  to  realize  such  an  imposing  funeral  occa- 
sion ;  members  and  organizations  of  White  Rock 
Church;  friends,  white  and  colored,  seemed  to 
vie  with  each  other  in  the  floral  offerings  of  the 
most  lovely  and  costly  designs.  There  was  hard- 
ly room  on  the  spacious  rostrum  to  contain  them. 
These  expressions  came  not  only  from  persons 
with  whom  he  had  been  associated,  but  we  are 
told  from  persons  who  had  only  heard  of  his 
noble  life  and  character.  Hours  before  the 
time  for  the  funeral  services,  the  street  for  about 
two  hundred  yards  was  crowded  to  its  utmost 
capacity ;  the  train  bearing  friends  from  Ra- 
leigh stopped  just  in  front  of  the  home  to  ac- 
commodate the  vast  numbers.  It  was  impossible 
to  have  all  the  disting-uished  men  speak,  who 
had  gathered  to  do  honor  to  the  occasion.  The 
sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  N".  F.  Roberts, 
D.D.,  a  schoolmate  and  lifelong  friend  of  the 
deceased;  others  who  spoke  were  Dr.  A.  W. 
Pegues,  Col.  Jas.  H.  Young,  Dr.  C.  F.  Meserve, 


60  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

of  Kaleigh,  ^.  C. ;  Dr.  J.  Elmer  Dellinger,  of 
Greensboro,  1^.  C. ;  Dr.  P.  S.  Lewis,  of  Char- 
lotte, I^.  C. ;  Dr.  A.  M.  Moore,  Dr.  J.  E.  Jack- 
son, Prof.  W.  G.  Pearson,  and  Mr.  John  Mer- 
rick, of  Durham.  An  original  poem  was  read 
by  G.  W.  McCorkle,  and  among  the  songs,  one 
that  he  loved  so  well,  a  solo,  'Tlee  as  a  bird  to 
your  mountain,^'  by  Miss  Maggie  Poole.  We 
shall  never  forget  the  scene  as  the  remains  were 
borne  from  the  church,  eighty  young  men  rep- 
resenting the  Baraca  Class,  of  which  he  was 
teacher,  with  bared  heads,  each  bearing  in  his 
hand  one  of  the  many  floral  designs.  Ere  the 
grave  was  reached  the  shades  of  night,  as  if  to 
give  their  share  of  gloom,  had  settled  down  on 
all.  AYith  torches  in  hand,  the  vast  throng  gath- 
ered around  the  last  resting  place  of  the  dead ; 
and  after  a  fervent  prayer  was  offered  and  the 
burial  service  was  read  by  Rev.  Dr.  Jackson,  of 
the  St.  Joseph  A.  M.  E.  Church,  all  that  was 
mortal  of  Augustus  Shepard,  the  distinguished 
pastor  of  the  White  Rock  Baptist  Church,  by 
gentle  hands  was  laid  to  rest  to  await  the  resur- 
rection morn.  Every  heart  was  touched  to 
tenderness  as  they  heard  so  distinctly  the  clods 
of  cold  clay  as  they  fell  upon  the  metal  coffin; 


REV,  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        61 

all  ejes  were  bathed  in  tears  as  the  coffin  was 
lost  from  view,  by  the  mound  of  fresh  clay. 
But  the  situation  was  changed,  as  if  by  imagi- 
nation, instead  of  the  clay,  it  was  a  bank  of 
flowers,  a  reminder  that  what  might  seem  lost 
in  the  grave's  confines  would  one  day  be  revived 
and  clothed  in  a  blessed  immortality;  would 
pass  into  those  blest  realms  where  the  flowers 
are  always  in  bloom. 

The  mourners  filed  away  in  turn  as  they  came, 
with  a  blessed  hope  that  they  should  meet  this 
loved  one  "In  the  sweet  by  and  bye/'  There 
was  just  one  profound  thought  which  filled  our 
inmost  soul  through  all  these  scenes,  which  we 
have  but  half  painted,  and  that  thought  was, 
after  all  it  pays  to  live  right. 


62  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

OTlfjite  a^ocfe  iSaptigt  Cljurcf) 

The  Baraca  Class  of  the  White  Eock  Baptist 
Church  is  the  live  wire  of  the  church.  The  late 
pastor,  Rev.  Augustus  Shepard,  D.D.,  always 
believed  in  young  men,  and  he  conceived  the 
idea  at  the  very  outset  of  his  pastorate  in  Dur- 
ham, to  enlist  the  young  men  in  the  work  of  the 
church.  He  started  the  work  with  a  class  of  six, 
and  from  six  the  class  grew  to  one  hundred 
and  five,  with  an  average  attendance  of  sixty- 
four.  It  is  a  remarkable  sight  to  see  such  a 
large  body  of  young  men  anxiously  and  eagerly 
engaged  in  church  work,  seeking  to  do  some- 
thing. The  motto  of  the  class  is,  "Young  Men 
Helping  Young  Men,  All  Standing  by  the  Bi- 
ble." The  class  has  a  regular  business  organi- 
zation which  meets  weekly.  They  contribute 
each  week  to  any  sick  member  of  the  class ;  they 
seek  out  the  stranger,  they  help  in  the  general 
work  of  the  church.  From  this  class  ushers 
are  appointed,  and  they  have  charge  of  the 
penny  collection  or  offering  for  the  sick.  The 
organization  of  this  class  has  added  hundreds 
of  dollars  to  the  church's  finances;  besides,  it 
has  exerted  a  saving  influence  upon  a  large  num- 


REV.  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        63 

ber  of  joimg  men.  'No  story,  however  graphi- 
cally told,  could  do  justice  to  the  good  done  by 
this  class  and  the  influence  it  has  had  in  help- 
ing the  church. 

White  Eock  Baptist  Church  was  remodeled 
in  1911  at  a  cost  of  $26,000.00.  It  is  modern 
in  its  equipment,  having  a  large  general  Sun- 
day School  room  and  ten  separate  class  rooms. 
It  has  a  parlor,  library,  reading  room,  kitchen, 
dining  room,  pastor's  study,  and  general  as- 
sembly room. 

The  library  of  this  church  is  open  to  the  peo- 
ple of  Durham,  and  it  is  made  a  reading  room 
at  night  so  that  the  young  men  can  gather  and- 
have  a  place  for  meeting. 

Baths  have  been  arranged  in  the  church,  so 
that  young  men  may  have  a  place,  by  paying  a 
nominal  fee,  to  take  any  kind  of  bath  desired. 

Night  classes  are  conducted  each  evening, 
where  bookkeeping,  stenography,  and  literary 
branches  are  taught. 

In  every  way  possible,  this  church  has  tried  to 
carry  out  the  spirit  of  the  pastor,  to  help  young 
men,  because  it  realizes  that  the  young  men 
must  be  the  future  hope  of  the  nation. 


64  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

We  give  just  a  few  letters  to  show  the  esteem 
in  which  the  character  of  our  sketch  was  held. 
And  what  say  these  few,  so  say  they  all. 


EEV.  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        65 

^ppxtmtion  hv  Br.  Cfjarlesf  Jf .  iWegerbe 

I  first  became  acquainted  witli  Dr.  Shepard 
soon  after  my  arrival  at  Shaw  University,  Kal- 
eigh,  IT.  C,  in  March,  1894.  I  saw  at  once 
that  he  was  an  unusual  man,  both  by  birth  and 
training.  I  came  to  know  him  very  closely 
through  the  years,  and  to  esteem  him  as  one  of 
the  best,  most  upright  and  conscientious  minis- 
ters of  the  State.  On  several  occasions  he  con- 
ducted special  revival  services  in  our  chapel, 
and  always  successfully  and  with  the  best  of 
judgment.  He  was  a  finished  speaker,  a  careful 
thinker,  and  in  all  of  his  associations  with  the 
leading  people  of  both  races  displayed  rare  good 
sense;  and  always  showed  himself  a  perfect 
Christian  gentleman.  He  was  born  in  slavery, 
and  at  the  close  of  the  Civil  War  began  to  take 
advantage  of  the  meagre  educational  advan- 
tages then  offered,  and  pursued  his  studies  later 
under  more  favorable  conditions,  and  was  grad- 
uated from  Shaw  University  with  the  degree  of 
B.S.  in  1880.  The  institution  honored  herself 
as  well  as  our  dear  departed  brother  in  confer- 
ring upon  him  later  the  honorary  degree  of  Doc- 
tor of  Divinity. 
5 


66  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

I  have  had  a  wide  acquaintance  during  a  long 
life  with  a  large  number  of  prominent  ministers 
of  both  races,  and  have  rarely  found  any  one 
more  courteous,  conscientious,  gentle,  and  spirit- 
ually minded  than  was  the  late  Dr.  Shepard. 
The  world  is  poorer  and  heaven  is  richer  because 
he  has  lived,  rendered  a  splendid  service,  and 
gone  to  his  reward. 

Charles  Fran^cis  Meserve, 
President  of  Shaw  University^, 

Raleigh,  N.  C. 
March  5,  1912. 


REV,  AUGUSTUS  SHEPARD        67 

tribute  bp  3^eb.  ^.  iS.  l^agsf,  B.  5©. 

If  there  is  any  one  minister  that  stands  at 
the  head  of  the  colored  preachers  of  North 
Carolina,  I  suppose  the  honor  belongs  to  Dr.  A. 
Shepard,  both  because  of  his  work,  his  talent  as 
orator  and  preacher,  and  most  of  all,  his  stal- 
wart Christian  character.  He  has  accomplished 
a  great  work  for  local  churches,  and  also  for  the 
denomination  at  large,  and  he  is  ending  up  his 
days  at  the  White  Rock  Baptist  Church,  Dur- 
ham, 'N.  C,  where  he  is  giving  us  all  some  ob- 
ject lessons  in  pastoring  a  people.  This  church 
ought  to  do  its  utmost  to  retain  him  as  pastor 
the  rest  of  his  life,  for  he  is  by  no  means  an 
old  man  yet,  and  is  inclined  to  go  where  the 
people  love  him  enough  to  try  to  live  up  to  a 
right  standard. 

Dr.  Shepard  was  one  of  the  pioneers  in  our 
denominational  work  in  this  State.  What  we 
are  today  is  due  very  largely  to  him.  He  has 
traveled  the  State  from  one  end  to  the  other,  in 
the  country  and  in  towns  and  cities,  and  where- 
ever  he  went  he  organized  Sunday  Schools  and 
churches,  and  placed  good  books  in  the  hands 
of  old  and  young.     He  was  the  second  Sunday 


68  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH 

School  missionary  sent  out  by  the  great  Ameri- 
can Baptist  Publication  Society  to  work  in 
North  Carolina,  and  he  did  the  work  of  dozens 
organizing  our  State  Sunday  School  Conven- 
tion. I  have  found  it  true  that  an  organized 
body  retains  and  represents  the  spirit  of  the 
man  that  founded  it.  This  is  especially  true  of 
our  Convention.  Dr.  Shepard  has  never  known 
any  other  spirit  in  his  work  than  that  of  the 
lowly  I^azarene,  and  I  know  of  few  State  Sun- 
day School  Conventions  where  there  is  such  lit- 
tle bombast  and  so  much  of  the  genuine  spirit 
of  our  Lord  and  Master  as  in  the  case  of  our 
Convention,  and  I  thank  God  it  was  started  by 
such  a  man.  One  reason  why  some  conventions 
and  churches  always  are  in  trouble  and  do  such 
little  is  because  they  represent  the  spirit  of  their 
founders. 

Dr.  Shepard  also  organized  the  Oxford  Or- 
phan Asylum,  which  has  so  commended  itself 
generally  that  the  State  of  Xorth  Carolina  is 
now  helping  it  with  a  handsome  appropriation 
yearly,  and  a  second  one  of  the  kind  has  been 
started  at  Winston-Salem  as  an  outgrowth  of 
this  effort. 

Dr.  A.  Shepard  is  no  time  server,  nor  does  he 


REV.  AUGU8TU8  SHEPARD        69 

flatter  men  and  study  to  please  them.  He  aims 
rather  to  show  himself  approved  unto  God  as  a 
worker  that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed,  and  is 
an  example  to  us  all.  May  God  bless  him  and 
spare  him  to  us  for  many  long  years  to  come. 

S.  'N.  Vass. 

[Tribute  offered  in  the  form  of  a  resolution  and  ad- 
dress by  Dr.  S.  N.  Vass  at  the  Baptist  State  Sunday 
School  Convention,  Goldsboro,  N.  C] 


